Lawn-sprinkling apparatus



April 30, 1929. H. B. SHERMAN 1,710,844

LAWN SPRINKLING APPARATUS Filed July 5, 1927 Patented Apr. 3o, 192e.

UNITED s'mras.PMI-:rrr oel-Ica :HOWARD B. SHERMAN, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN;

IDA M. SHERMAN, EXECUTBIX F SAI) HOWARD B. SHERMAN, DECEASED, ASSIGNOB T0 H. B. SHERMAN MANU- FACTUBING C0., 0F BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN,

A COB'POBATION QI'y MICHIGAN.

LAWN -SPRINXLIN G APPARATUS.

Application led J'u1y'5, 1927. Serial No. 203,443.

This invention is an improvement in underground lawn sprinkler systems and its objects are to provide a system which can be cheaply and easily installed by ordinarylabor, and

is automatically self-draining when not in use and to provide automatic drain valves that can be easily removed and replacedwithout having to dig up any portion of the system, and which will be reliable and efficient in operation.

lVhere underground sprinkling systems are used in places subject to freezing, it is necessaryy to drain the system to prevent injury thereto. Sprinkler systems are installed in ground that may be level or undulating. In order to drain the system the pipingr is commonly led back tio a drain valve at the low point of the system to provide against bursting of the pipes in the winter. In such a case deep excavating is necessary, and it is usually necessary to have the aid of a surveyor in laying the pipes, therefore such a system is expensive to install, and to drain at one common low point is dangerous as the drain might become stopped. Another objection to such systems in lawns is the fact that the-deep excavations injure the lawn and produce hollows or mounds following the course of the piping. The deeper the excavation, the more the ground will settle; and to compensate for this settlement little mounds of earth must be left over the eX- cavations which mounds later may either sink below the surface, or have to be cut olf in order to make the lawn surface level.

The ideal underground sprinkler system is one in which the pipes can be laid very near the surface of the ground and be provided with automatic draining means under each sprinkler head, or under a sufficient number of heads, to insure the system being freely drained when not in use, and obviate the necessity for opening the drains in the fall and of closing them in the spring, and to save the labor of so doing, and the annoyance and trouble caused by forgetting to open the drains or to close them.

My present invention provides a system which possesses these desirable features and advantages, and a further very important advantage of having the automatic drain valves so placed that they can be readily removed and replaced, in Case 0f trouble.

at considerable expense,

Every automatic drain through faulty work-` manship or some other .unforeseen reason, may glve trouble. Ordinarily, in such case, the valve orphead would have to be dug up and the lawn disngured, to get at the faulty drain.valve either by breaking or removing parts, or by some other comp icated and expensive method.

In my invention this very serious difiiculty 1s overcome by having the automatic drain valve readily removable through the sprinkler head; each drain valve being a small compact assembly that can be easily removed and replaced, and is so inexpensive that a defective one can be thrown away and a new one substituted therefor.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated a sprinkling apparatus embodying the invention, and will describe the same with reference thereto, and refer to the claims for summaries of the invention, and the novel features of construction, and the novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawing Fig. l isa diagrammatic view of part of a sprinkler system embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of one of the associated sprinkler heads, cross connectors, and drain valves. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the sprinkler disc removed showing the novel tool used to remove or replace the drain valve. Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the drain valve, removed. Fig. 6 is a view of the tool and drain valve, attached. Fig. 7 is a top plan .view of the sprinkler head, detached.

In carryingout my invention I provide a number of units each comprising a body l, to which is attached a sprinkler head 2 and a drain valve 3. Body 1 may be a commercial brass fitting such as a cross or a tee, and the sprinkler head 2 be detachably attached there to. above the fittings, and the drain valve 3 detachably attached to the fitting at the lower end thereof; said drain valve is arranged to open automatically when there is no water pressure in the pipes and it can be removed through the fitting by removing the sprinkler head, or a part of the head, as hereinafter described. A number of these units may be placed at different pointsin the lawn, or area to be sprinkled, with the sprinkler head up! wrench, and with an annular groove 3 inthe t inner wall of the casing 3 above the valve 9.

When this construction is employed I rovide a s ecial wrench 10 which has a hea 10*l on its ower en ving radially projecting lugs 10b adapted lto engagethe s ots 3, and it also has a rounded tit 10 below and intermediate lugs 10", said tit 10 being adapted to be passed through one of the slots 3t and then engaged with the annular groove 3.

When the tit 10 is engaged with the groove 3the wrench 10 can be turned until the lugs 10b engage the slots 3*, then the drain valve casing can be bodily turned to screw same into or out of position.

The drain valve when unscrewed can be lifted from position by reason of engagement of thetit 10 with the channel 3. When the valve has been screwed home, the lugs 10b can be disengaged from the notches 3t by an upward pull and then the wrench turned to disengage tit 10 from the groove 3, the tit passing through one of the slots 3t (see Fig 5). Of course when the drain valve 3 is to be placed in or removed from body 1,

the headV 2, or the sprinkling chamber 4, should be removed,V as indicated in Fig. 4.

The drain valve casing 3 can thus be inserted through the head, and can be removed through the head. The construction is such that the removable sprinkler head permits access to the drain valve below; said drain valve opening automatically when there is no pressure in the pipes, and being removable and replaceable through the head Without having to disturb the fittings.

It will be seen that I am able to put the drain valve casing in through the head and make it watertight in the bottom; and also able to remove it in a similar Way. While the above described `means for placing or removing this valve are eiicient, there are other ways in which it could be unscrewed and lifted.

It will be seen that by removing the sprinkling chamber access can be had through the head down through the body immediately below,to the automatic drain valve casing,\vhich can be readily removed and replaced with out having to dig up any portion oi the system, and the lead or similar washers enable the. valve casing and sprinkler head to be set up tight Without becoming rust locked, thereby enabling the parts to be unscrewed and removed and replaced without having to dig up or break. any parts ofthe apparatus.

The device as shown requires no mechanical skill in placing it in service, and any owner can readily repair the valves or replace same in the system Without requiring the services of a plumber or other mechanic. The drain valve casings can be made very cheaply; and the user can keep a few extra valves on hand for insertion in place of any valves Which in course of time. might give trouble.

I claim:

1. For a lawn sprinkling apparatus, a unit comprising a body portion provided with openings respectively for connection with water pipe, sprinkler head, and drain valve casing;

casing 'removably secured in a lower lopening of the body and insertable and removable through the upper opening of the body without disturbing the body portion.

2. For a lawn sprinkling apparatus, a, unit comprising a bo y portion provided with openings respectively' forconnection with water pipe, sprinkler head and drain valve casing; a sprinkler head connected with the uppermost opening of the bod a drain valve in the lowermost opening ofy the body and insertable and removable through the said head when the unit is in position in 'the ground; the sprinkler head having a removable part to permit access to and removal of the drain valve, and Vsaid drain valve casing being removable and replaceable through the said head. I

3. For a lawn sprinkling apparatus, a unit comprising abody portion provided withopenings respectively for connection with water pipe, sprinkler head, and drain valve casing; a sprinkler head connected with an upper opening of the body and having area sprinkler head connected with an y YAupper opening of the body and a drain valve movable sprinkling chamber; and a drain valve casing in` the bottom opening of the body of less diameter than the sprinkling chamber' and insertable and removable through the opening in the head when the sprinkling chalnberis removed.

4. For a lawn sprinkling apparatus, a unit comprising a body portion provided with openings respectively for connection of a Water pipe, a sprinkler head and a drain valve; a sprinkler head connected with the upper opening of the body; a removable 'drain valve -casing in the bottom opening of the bodyv provided with means for engagement with a suitable tool whereby the drain valve casing may be inserted or removed by said tube from the body when the unit is in position in the ground; said drain valve being removable and replaceable through said head. y

5. For a lawn sprinkling apparatus, a unit comprlsing a body portion provided. with openings respectively for connection of a water pipe; a sprinkler head, and a drain valve; a sprinkler head connected with an upper opening of the body and having a removable sprinkling chamber; a removable drain valve casing in the lower opening of the body provided with means for engagement with a suitable tool whereby the drain valve casing can be inserted and removed by said tool when the unit is in position in the ground; the removable sprinkling chamber permitting access to the drain valve, and said lo vi ed with external threads to engage indrain valve bein removable and replaceable through said hea when the sprlnkllng cham- -ber is removed.

6. For a lawns rinkling apparatus, a unit comprising a bo y portion provided with side openings for connection of plplng, and top and bottom openings; a removable sprinkler headv connected with the to openwhen the unit is in position in the said casing having 'a valve seat be ow the ing of the body; a removable drain va ve casin in the bottom opening in the body protcrnal threads inthe bushing; and slots. in its upper edge andan annular groove adjacent said edge and communicating with said slots for engagement of a suitable tool by which the drain valve may be inserted and removed ound;

in its upper edge, and a groove adjacent such ,edgev and communicating with said slotsv whereby it is adapted to be engaged by a suit. able tool for the purpose of inserting or re- 'rroving the casing from the object in which it is to be placed or `from which it is to be removed; and a valve in said casing, substantially as described.

In testimony that'I claim the foregoing as my own, I afig mylsignature.

HOWARD B. SHERMAN.

oove; and an inwardly opening valve A l R20 for the purpose specified, comthreaded to en ushing, and hav- 

